MUMBAI: Remember the Oprah Winfrey show? The unstoppable business woman behind the show has now signed a multi-year content partnership with technology company Apple. Winfrey will work with the iPhone maker to produce TV shows for its forthcoming streaming service.
Winfrey is a renowned media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist.
Together, Winfrey and Apple will create original programs that embrace her incomparable ability to connect with audiences around the world. The deal includes making of a film, tv, applications, books and other content that could easily be distributed on Apple’s platform.
Winfrey’s projects will be released as part of a lineup of original content from Apple.
Winfrey’s Harpo Films will own any and all content produced under the Apple partnership, in line with Winfrey’s longtime business model. However, she will continue in her role as chairman and CEO of Discovery Communications-backed cable network OWN.
Apple has stepped up against other OTT giants Netflix and Amazon Prime who have signed multiple celebrities and personalities in the last year. Apart form Winfrey, Apple recently also signed Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steven Spielberg to reboot its original content plans.
Earlier last week, Nicole Kidman joined hands with Amazon for a first-look film and TV deal.
While Apple’s $1 billion push in original programming is big money, Netflix spent $6.3 billion while Amazon splurged $4.5 billion in 2017.